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Ezell's Fried Chicken (Central District)

501 23rd Ave
Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 324-4141
Website

Categories: Restaurant

Restaurant Details

  • The best fried chicken in the country, dished out over a low-key neighborhood counter. Oprah has it FedExed directly to her mouth.
  • Features: Cheap Eats and To Go
  • Cuisine: Southern American
  • Serving Hours: Sun-Thurs 10 am-10 pm, Fri-Sat 10 am-11 pm.

The Stranger's Reviews of Ezell's Fried Chicken

 
 

Average Rating:
  • 3.83000/5 Stars.
Reviews/Comments (12) RSS

Newest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a review of Ezell's Fried Chicken
12

Oh, Ezell's...I do love you

...like I love pork rinds covered in spray cheese and heavy butter covering the edges of my pop tarts, lightly browned and tasting sweetly of that fat, fat cream. Ezell's is one of those luscious delights - they know how to make fried chicken and they know how to make the fixings. That's about it. Customer service for an institution like Ezell's isn't top priority, and it shouldn't be - the crispness of the skin of an air-dried chicken breast and the sides are all you need. It's not fast food - it's not fast soul food, but it's also definitely not KFC or Safeway, and the skin of the chicken still has the heat of the fryer deep in the body and soul of the meat.
Posted by zymyrgy on October 1, 2008 at 6:36 PM · Report
11

For Real Fried Chicken Lovers

I've traveled alot in the south and eaten at places that are regionally and even nationally known for great fried chicken. Ezell's rates up there with the best. What makes that even more remarkable is that it's essentially a fast food operation. Your order is taken from trays of already cooked chicken and presented to you in just a couple of minutes. Despite that, the chicken tastes fresh, juicy, and totally ungreasy (for real fried chicken.) And despite what one reviewer wrote, I have never had other than friendly, smiling service. Also, despite what another reviewer wrote, the chicken pieces are very generously sized. I have never seen such meaty wings. Seattle should be proud to be the home of such a class operation.
Posted by bluepiano on April 13, 2008 at 9:55 PM · Report
10

Phantom Wings

I was a vegetarian for a very long time, but one of the things that broke my resolve was the haunting siren's call of Ezell's 3 piece Spicy Dark snack pack w/ an extra roll. If you can't taste the difference between this and the crap they serve at QFC or KFC, you deserve to wallow in your own ignorance.
Posted by christopher h on August 29, 2007 at 2:54 PM · Report
9

Fabulous if sometimes uneven

Maybe once time outta six they disappoint big time. But by and large this is your absolutely awesome over the top fried chicked experience.
Posted by Brecky Brown on August 2, 2007 at 12:11 AM · Report
8

the perfect summer picnic

The perfect picnic for two at Seward Park: -4-piece spicy chicken snack pack -large potato salad -small baked beans -extra roll But do your swimming first!
Posted by ButtermilkBiscuits on July 17, 2007 at 4:11 PM · Report
7

Don't believe the hype

I've lived about two blocks away for 8 years and have only been there twice, if that says anything. Greasy fried chicken, mediocre side dishes, and a typical fast food "I don't give a fuck about this place I'm working" service staff. So why all the hype? I guess you get points for being down with the authentic food of the hood. Word!
Posted by Paris Hamlet on July 12, 2007 at 2:47 AM · Report
6

Reputation is Oversold

Doesn't live up to the hype. Visited Ezell's twice and disappointed on both occasions. Had Southern-raised family in town and so I wanted to impress them with some great fried chicken. Went to Ezell's. Got it home. It was old and dry and under-seasoned. Maybe the staff just wanted to get rid of the old stuff before making fresh, but it was a complete rip-off and the sides were nothing very special either. Went back a second time weeks later to see if it was a fluke and the experience was pretty much the same. Additionally, they quarter the breasts (said to be how black folk cut chicken to make it go farther) but charge like it's a half-breast. Lame. Truthfully, I've had better fried chicken at QFC's deli when the chicken is fresh; you get what you pay for! There is no guarantee for its famous quality.
Posted by Bauhaus on July 7, 2007 at 3:04 AM · Report
5

Kentucky Fried Crack

One hit, and you're addicted. The chicken really is THAT good. We got it the first time in a pinch when our own BBQ efforts failed miserably and we needed to feed a big crowd STAT. Ezell's is nearby, and we'd heard the hype. We got the chicken only - some standard some spicy - because we already had all the sides at home. You know the food is good when a large and loud group falls nearly silent because they are so intensely focused on eating. "Miss Piggy" - LOL, yes the spicy chicken especially does make for horrendous gas. I feel your pain. But, like you, I can't stop.
Posted by Breast Man on July 2, 2007 at 11:28 PM · Report
4

Oprah's Fried Food Club

Seattle's top junk food.
Posted by CK Dexter Haven on June 6, 2007 at 11:54 AM · Report
3

Excellent

Drive from Ballard 2-3 times a month to buy. Like the chicken, the rolls, the cole slaw, the peach cobbler, and the bread pudding. That's all I've tried so far. IMHO, some of the best chicken in Seattle.
Posted by the commuter on June 5, 2007 at 5:03 AM · Report
2

YUMMY!

The food is so good. I love the spicey chicken. The only draw back is that everytime I go, I get the nastiest gas ever. My poor b/f can't be around me if I've chowing on the mama bird, but what's a girl to do? I love that fried chicken.
Posted by Miss Piggy on May 19, 2007 at 10:15 AM · Report
1

This is the Stuff

OK, "best in the country" might be pushing it; I've had better in Tacoma. But it's pretty damn good, a lot better than you'll get anywhere else, and it's a cultural icon. Like Ivars, if you haven't eaten here you don't really live in Seattle, you're just visiting. The only thing I don't like about this place is the way I always order too many sides and eat too much. Good fried chicken is nothing without good sides.
Posted by Fnarf on May 16, 2007 at 4:38 PM · Report

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